Centre, States agree that illegal sand mining affecting infrastructure development

The Centre and states have admitted that growing illegalsand mining was hampering the infrastructure like roads and buildings and also affecting the social fabric of the villages. They've arrived at a consensus to approach the Supreme Court to seek a clarifiction whether the requirement of obtaining environment clearance (EC) for minor minerals for areas less than 5 hectare was a permanent obligation or only a transitory need till such time all states frame rules under section 15 of Mines & Minerals Development & Regulation Act Stock Trading Tips

At the recent meeting , it was decided that ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) and the ministry of mines(MoM) will file an interlocutory application in this regard.

''Most of the states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have shared that there has been a rise in the cases of illegal mining of minor minerals especially sand, which is due to the requirement of obtaining EC as mandated in the Deepak Kumar judgement given by the apex court. Obtaining EC has proved to be difficult, with the various stages in obtaining it,'' said a senior government official who was present at the meeting convened by the MoM with states between October 29 to 31, 2014. The ministry has released minutes of the same meeting this week Financial Astrology Trading Tips

The official said almost all the state governments informed that litigation was strangulating the administrative integrity impending grant/renewal of sand mining leases resulting in increase in illegal mining. States also brought to the Centre's notice that the illegal sand mining was on the rise also due to burgeoning gap between demand and supply of river sand. Madhya Pradesh government informed that the state has become the hub of illegal mining because of not being able to grant or renew mining leases.

 

 

Maharashtra is facing problems of sand mining in coastal areas. They've conveyed that it could not auction sand mines for last 3-4 years due to public interest litigation and it was facing problems with state environment appraisal committees Personal Numerology Trading Tips

States also pointed out that they were in the midst of evolving sand mining policy subsequent to Deepak Kumar judgement delivered by the apex court with focus on information technology in a big way.

Sunil Mantri, president National Real Estate Development Council admitted that the sand availability continues to be a major challenge for the realty sector as many projects are stalled due to acute shortage of sand supply. ''We urge the government to ease the sand supply situation and also allow import from the neighboring countries,'' he noted Commodity Trading Tips

According to the official, states made a strong case for simplification and decentralization of process of getting EC with the establishment of district or regional level committees. Further, states suggested that in stream sand mining be allowed with a condition that minimum quantity of sand be extracted and such sand be used to meet the local demand. States also emphasized the need for exemption of EC for short term permission of removal of sand for the purpose of public works, housing Intraday Trading Tips